Speakers
Markus Ahrens, PhD, CPA, CGMA, FMAA
Markus Ahrens is a Professor of Accounting and currently serves as the District Department Chair for the Accounting, Business & Economics Department at St. Louis Community College. Prior to his teaching career, Markus worked in accounting and finance for 15 years.
Markus has received national and state awards for his teaching and his innovation in the classroom, including the 2025 Faculty Lecture Award at St. Louis Community College. In addition, Markus is the proud recipient of the 2019 Innovation in Accounting Education Award from the American Accounting Association and EY, and the 2016 American Accounting Association/J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook/Deloitte Foundation Prize. Markus also received the 2018 and 2013 AICPA Bea Sanders Innovation Awards in Teaching Introductory Accounting Courses. Furthermore, Markus was awarded the 2018 Missouri Society of CPA's Outstanding Educator of the Year Award and the 2017 Educator of the Year Award from the American Accounting Association Two-Year College Section.
Courtney Kincaid, CAE
Courtney Kincaid, CAE, serves as president and CEO of the Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS), a professional association representing more than 5,000 CPAs and accounting professionals statewide. A dedicated association executive, Kincaid has been with INCPAS since 2006, holding a variety of leadership roles across communications, membership, and strategic initiatives before being named president and CEO.
Kincaid holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and sociology from Indiana University and a master’s degree in public affairs—with a focus in nonprofit management—from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI. She is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management and earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2017. In recognition of her early contributions to the association industry, she received the “Rising STAR of the Year Award” from the Indiana Society of Association Executives in 2011.
A lifelong Hoosier, Kincaid lives in Indianapolis with her husband and their two young sons. She is passionate about workforce development, leadership, and creating value in member’s professional communities. She is also an active volunteer and mentor within the association management profession.
Connect with her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/courtney-kincaid-cae-iom-08b5043
Karen Osterheld, CPA
Karen Osterheld is the Senior Director of the Center for Advancing Accounting Education at the American Accounting Association. In this role, she is responsible for identifying, developing, and disseminating best practices and innovations in accounting education across the academy.
Prior to joining the AAA, Karen was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Accountancy at Bentley University and was a full-time member of the faculty for 31 years. During her tenure at Bentley, Karen primarily taught introductory and intermediate accounting. Karen was also responsible for the department's academic internship program for undergraduate and graduate students.
Cathy Scott, PhD
Cathy Scott is the Inaugural Director of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, Program Coordinator for Graduate Business Programs and the Dealership Management Program, and an Associate Professor of Business Accounting at the University of North Texas-Dallas. She is passionate about enhancing accounting education and fostering an inclusive learning environment.
Dr. Scott has published and presented extensively on topics such as emerging technologies (including AI), the effective use of technology in education, improving online learning, active learning strategies, data analytics, neurodiversity, and strengthening the accounting education pipeline. She is also the author of two college accounting textbooks and co-founder of TeachingAndLearningToolbox.com, a website and blog dedicated to connecting technology with pedagogy.
Additionally, Dr. Scott’s contributions to innovative teaching and research have been recognized with multiple local, state, and national awards, including the American Accounting Association (AAA)/EY Foundation Innovation in Education Award, the Bea Sanders/AICPA Teaching Innovation Award, and the AAA/J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook/Deloitte Foundation Prize.
Rebecca Shortridge, Professor, PhD
Dr. Rebecca Shortridge joined the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in July 2021 as the Gary W. Rollins Endowed Chair and Department Head of Accounting. Prior to joining UTC, Dr. Shortridge was the Donald E. Kieso Endowed Chair of Accountancy at Northern Illinois University. At UTC, Dr. Shortridge teaches graduate financial statement analysis and principles of accounting. Dr. Shortridge is serving as the President of the Leadership section of the American Accounting Association. She also chairs a task force on Principles of Accounting for the Future Accountants Sponsoring Organizations, In 2021, Dr. Shotridge was recognized by the Illinois CPA Society as a Woman to Watch. Dr. Shortridge earned a Bachelor of Accounting and MBA from Indiana University and her Ph.D. in Accounting from Michigan State.
Wendy Tietz, CPA, CMA, CSCA, CGMA
Dr. Wendy Tietz is an accounting professor at Kent State University in Ohio. She teaches introductory financial and managerial accounting in a variety of formats. She also teaches advanced management accounting and advanced accounting analytics and technology. Dr. Tietz has received several national teaching awards, and is the co-author of three introductory accounting textbooks. She is passionate about teaching accounting and using educational technology to enhance student engagement. Dr. Tietz regularly presents at conferences throughout North America on various topics including AI, data analytics, and engagement strategies.
Alyssa Vowell, CPA
Alyssa Vowell joined the Oklahoma State faculty in 2011. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Spanish minor and Master of Business Administration with an Accounting Emphasis, both from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Prior to joining OSU, Alyssa worked over eight years in the accounting profession. She spent five years in public accounting, which primarily focused on income tax compliance activities, but also included audit client assistance and payroll and bookkeeping activities. She also spent three years with Chesapeake Energy Corporation's income tax department. With Chesapeake, Alyssa was responsible for approximately half of the company's state income tax filings, quarterly estimated payments, extension filings, and correspondence with various state tax agencies. Alyssa maintains her CPA license in the State of Oklahoma. Her teaching focus has included Tax, Cost Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, and most recently Survey of Accounting where she coordinates all sections of the introductory accounting course.
Lynn Wolf, CPA
Lynn Wolf joined Bentley University in January 2020 and is currently a Senior Lecturer. She is the university course coordinator in the introductory financial reporting and analysis courses for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Prior to Bentley, Lynn engaged in an accounting career in start-up and growth technology companies, venture capital portfolio management and public accounting. As a Bentley Double Falcon (BS Accountancy, MBA), Lynn brings her Falcon pride back to her alma mater and integrates a combination of academic and real-life experience to engage students to learn the accounting basics and to explore various career paths in the accounting field. Lynn has presented at the AAA CTLA conference in 2023 on integrating accounting concepts with a start-up venture and looks forward helping explore and promote continuous new ways to inspire students to the accounting profession.